EU companies generate 14% of revenue online — report

European Union companies engaged in e-commerce generate 14% on average of their sales online, Warc has reported, citing research conducted by BITKOM.

Bernhard Rohleder, chief executive of the German-based IT and telecommunications trade body, said that online trading had become a firmly established sales channel and many EU companies were now doing business exclusively online.

The top score was achieved by enterprises in the Czech Republic, whose online sales account for 25% of their revenues. Finland grabbed second place with 20%, followed by Sweden and Hungary with 19% each, BITKOM estimates. Norway came after them on the list with 18% and the next position was jointly occupied by Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom with a score of 17% each.

The figures apply to companies trading online and with a headcount of more than ten.

Norway currently ranks on top with regard to the proportion of companies engaged in active trading online, with 36% found to belong to that group. In the case of the Czech Republic, the proportion is estimated at 26%, while Sweden scores 24% on that metric. Denmark and Ireland each have 23% and Lithuania follows them with 21%, coming ahead of Germany with 20%. BITKOM calculated the average EU figure to be 13%.

When it comes to B2B purchases, Danish companies are the league table leader, with 71% of them buying goods or services on the Internet. Runner-up Norway scored significantly lower in that department, with 61%. Next on the list are Austria and Germany with 59% and 54% respectively. The average for the region is 35%.